POLOKWANE – The warning about people claiming to be from Eskom robbing people at gunpoint in their homes, which is doing the social media rounds, is just another urban legend.
This was confirmed by Col Ronél Otto, a provincial police spokesperson, who said the police were aware of this warning doing the rounds.
“According to our records no house robbery or similar incident with such a modus operandi was reported during the past few months in the province. However, the community are advised to always be alert and aware of people visiting their homes under false pretences. Domestic workers should also be instructed not to let anybody inside the premises without verifying with their employers first,” Otto said.
The bogus warning has done the rounds before, and reared its head again recently via social networks like Facebook and BlackBerry Messenger (BBM). The message warns residents from Mokopane and Polokwane about three to four men who visit people’s homes claiming they are from Eskom to change light bulbs for free, but once they enter the house they rob people at gunpoint.
Speaking on behalf of Eskom, Phemelo Biloane confirmed that there was currently no compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) exchange programme taking place in Limpopo.
“Residents are urged not to allow any person claiming to be from Eskom to change light bulbs onto their property. Communities in Mokopane and Polokwane are urged to contact the police should they find themselves in such situations,” Biloane said.
He added that should there be a CFL exchange programme, Eskom would notify residents in advance through various media channels, as well as the municipality.
“Residents will be requested to come to central, safe and accessible areas such as malls to exchange their bulbs,” he said.
Biloane advised residents to take note of the following when Eskom employees visited their premises:
• Eskom employees always travel in an Eskom-branded vehicle.
• They always wear Eskom-branded clothing.
• When they request entry into your property, ask for their work identification card which must reflect their ID number and unique number.
